When choosing your facial plastic surgeon, I believe there are some aspects that are nonnegotiable and others that are deeply personal. First, you want to make sure she or he is well trained and board-certified. You should research your surgeon to make sure they completed medical school, surgical residency training, and a fellowship in the area most relevant to your concerns. This would be either a head and neck surgery residency and facial plastic surgery fellowship for nose and face concerns, or a plastic surgery residency and appropriate aesthetic fellowship for body concerns.
You want to check that they are board-certified. Board certification is important because this means that not only has this doctor completed the necessary training, but they have also passed rigorous board exams pertaining to their specialty. And in many instances, they have had a board review their surgical results for a number of cases at the start of their career. This I know is true for facial plastic surgery, for which both Dr. Pontell and I both hold board certification from the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery (ABFPRS).
Once you’ve confirmed that your chosen doctor has checked all these boxes, there is also a personal part of this decision that only you, the patient, can know. Some questions you may be able to answer by getting to know them through their website and social media, others you can only really know after your consultation.
Consider these following questions:
- Do you vibe with this doctor?
- Would you feel more comfortable with a female or male surgeon?
- Do you like the doctor’s aesthetic style?
There are stylistic differences among surgeons who may have different tastes – this is where you look at their before-and-after photos and see if there is someone there that looks like you and has a result you would feel happy with. And, of course, there’s the doctor’s bedside manner and the experience with their team in the office. Does the doctor and their office staff make you feel comfortable?
Finally, we can’t forget cost. It’s not unusual for different surgeons to charge vastly different fees for the same procedure. These differences may reflect the surgeon’s expertise, or the market they are competing in. Ultimately, it’s up to you how much this impacts your decision.
In the end, choosing your surgeon is a very personal decision. Once you’ve done the due diligence to make sure they are well trained and board-certified, it’s who makes you feel the most comfortable and the most confident in terms of providing you the result you desire.
If you have questions for me or for Dr. Pontell, or if you are ready to schedule a consultation, please contact The Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Center, Inc. today.
— Dr. Catherine Weng – Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
